Thermometer and similar instrument



Dec. 18 1923. 31,478,258

' H. SCHLAICH THERMOMETER AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENT Filed May 10 1921 7 By M, 1& v Z 7 4 TTOR/i/EVS EEK? SCELAIGE, 0F LQEZ TG' ISLAND CITY, YQEK,

THEEMGEUETER am SIMILAR INSTRUMENT.

dupllcntian use ma as, real. semi an. access.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN gonmrorr,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Long Island City, county of Queens, and

State oi New Y o rk have,invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Thermometers and Similar Instruments,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates t o thermometers and similar instruments, and is designed especially to providea construction for thermometers and other instruments capable of being easily and accurately read from various positions.

The invention also the provision for its purpose of a construction capable of being embodied in instruments of attractivc appearance, of sturdy but of simple and inexpensive construction,

and capable of ready adjustability so that accurate calibration is easily obtained.

The invention in some of its embodiments may also be provided with maximum and minimum lndicators of improved and simple construction.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No.

478,430, renewed June 17, 1

In the accompanying a single embodiment of drawings, in which the invention 15 illustrated as illustrative of the principle thereof and of a preferred means for carrying the same out:

Figure 1 1s a vertical sect]. instrument;

onal view of the Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side view of and Figure 4 IS a Referring to the instrument;

view or an adjusting key; the drawings in detail, 1 is a suitable support, which is formed to provide a chamber instrument mechanism. In shown, similar use,

which is a thermometer the chamber 2 2 for the reception of the the construction for desk or is. open at the bottom and the support 1 includes a base 3,

flange 4, which having a intervals as indicated is cut away at so as to permit the access of the outer air to the interior of the chamber 2. As a protection for the instrument mechanism, the

support ,1 may have removably attached thereto a perforated plate '6, which encloses theunstrur merit mechanism while per cess of the air thereto.-

mitting tree ac- In the construction shown, a circular opening 7 is formed in the support at the top "of the chamber 2, this opening being illustrated-as surrounded by a flange 8. 9 is the dial plate of the instrument, which is preferably of arched or convex form, having its central portions higher than its marginal portions, and this plate,-in. addition to carrying he instrument scale, also serves in the preferred construction of the instrument to support the entire operative mechanism. The convex hape oi the dial gives it strength and rigidity and enables it to properly perform its supporting function, and it also has important advantages in rendering the instrument readable from various positions, as will be more particularly explained,

In the construction shown, a dome-shaped crystal 10 encloses the dial, both the dial. and crystal being secured in place by a retaining ring 11" This ring has a horizontal portion scatin on the flange 8 and forming a seat to receive the flange 12 of the dial plate and the edge of the crystal. The ring 11 is provided with a flange 13, which may be spun in osition, a rubber Washer 14 being -preferably enclosed by this flange and held tightly against the cr stal so as to render the chamber within tie crystal dustand moisture-tight. The retaining ring 11 has a downwardly-projecting flange 15, which fits within the flange 8 of the support and the lower edge of which is spun over or pressed over at intervals as indicated at the points 16, so as to hook beneath the flange 8 and firmly secure the parts thereon. The dial plate 9 has a central hole therein, and passing throu h this hole is a bushing 17, which has at its upper end a flange 18 resting on top of the dial plate. Heldto the bushing by a nut 19 is a plate 20, which at its edges frictionally engages the underside of the dial plate. Secured to the plate 20 is a frame 21, preferably in the form of a U-shaped rod or wire, which may be at" tached to the plate in any suitable manner, as by having its ends pass through holes 1n the plate and riveted. thereto.

In the bottom of this frame, in alignment with the hole through the bushing 1s a bearing hole 22. Mounted torotate in this hearing hole and in the hole in the bushing is an arbor or spindle 23, to which 1s contill over so as to maintain the crystal.

lid

' element comprises a coiled bi-metallic strip 24, the lower end of which is firmly attached to the arbor at the int 25 and the upper end of which is attac ed to a lug 26, depending from the plate 20. This lug 26 may be conveniently formed by punching out and bending down a part of the late. As the arbor is very light, it is retained in proper longitudinal position in its bearings by the engagement therewith of the coil 24-, and no thrust hearing or support is required. Mounted on the upper end of the arbor, which projects above the dial plate into the spice between the dial plate and the domes ped crystal is the indicator'27, prefera'bly made in the form of a vane or flag and comprising a thin plate characterized by its location in a plane passing through the axis of the arbor and by the fact that it has substantial width in that plane. The edge of this vane adjacent to the surface ofthe dial plate is preferably shaped to conform to the contour of thedial and is carried out nearly to the edge of the dial, the outer part of the vane being diminished in width to form a point 28. The dial plate is provided with a scale 29 with which are associated suitable indicia 30, the scale and indicia be ing located on the outer part of the convex surface of the dial plate and immediately under the outer pointed part of the vane.

The plate-like form of the indicator or vane, the convex shape of the dial plate and the location of the scale thereon are very important elements of the preferred form of the invention, as they enable the instrument to be read with equal facility and accuracy when viewed from any angle, from horizontal to vertical. Figure 2 shows the appearance of the instrument from the top or from the position in alignment with the axis of the arbor, while Figure 3 shows the instrument as viewed from a position at right angles to the arbor and shows that the scale may be plainly observed and the position of the vane thereon accurately determined from either point of viewl Obviously, the instrument may be read from any intermediate position. The broad 'vane is also plainly visible from a distance, and

an approximate reading may be made when the instrument is viewed from any angle with respect to the plane of the vane.

The construction described provides for the ready adjustment of the calibration of the instrument by the turning of the U-fi-ame and the plate 20 with respect to the dial. By setting up the nut 19 upon the bushing 17 sufiiciently, the desired amount of tension may be placed upon the plate 20, so that the friction between this late and the dial will be sufiicientto hold t e plate firmly in masses" any adjusted position, while still permitting a change of adjustment to be made whenever necessary. Adjustment may be readily tor with respect to the scale at any give71 temperature. In some instances, it IS desirable to provide an instrument having a maximum or minimum, indicator, or both, and such indicators, of very simple and eflicient construction, have been devised and are illustrated as applied to the instrument construction described. 32 is a maximum indicating hand and 33 a minb imum indicating hand, these hands being formed of light metal and having central openings therein, through which the arbor passes loosely. The hands are each provided with a projection 34, one or the other of which is adapted to be engaged by the vane 27, depending upon the direction of movement thereof, and to be moved to the maximum or minimum position reached by the vane.

As thevarbor of the instrument is vertical and transverse to the position of the dial plate, it will be seen that the maximum and minimum hands extend laterally from the arbor and rest by gravity upon the face of the dial. They will thus remain in any position to which they are pushed. They may be made of very light construction, an as they have no substantial frictional engagement at the center with the arbor or with any supporting member, the force required to move them is entirely negligible and in no way affects the accuracy of the in-- strument, though the movingparts of the latter be very light. Furthermore, with the substantially horizontal arrangement of the maximum and minimum hands,-their resetting is very readily accomplished by the mere tilting of the instrument, so as to permit them to fall by gravity to positlons adjacent to the vane.

It will be understood that the instrument described may be mounted in any suitable form of casing, support or base, and except when provided with the maximum and minimum hands described may be mounted in any position, although it is preferably mounted in a position with the arbor substantially vertical, as thislessens the friction thereof and secures amaximum of durability and accuracy. Furthermore, the instrument is in balance and the weight of the vane does not affect the reading. Where maximum and minimum hands are employed which are intended to hold their position accents merely by gravitational engagement with tion of the arbor .is necessary.

While I have described and illustrated in detail but one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that my invention may be embodied in modified forms of construction, and I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself specificall to what is shown and described, but inten to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, ll claim;

1. In a thermometer, a dial plate, a supporting plate mounted beneath the same, a tubular bushing connecting said plates and holding the edge of the supportin plate in frictional engagement with .the dia plate, an arbor passing through said bushing and rotatably journaled therein, temperature-nesponsive means carried by said supporting plate and operatively connected to said arbor, and indicating means operatively connected to said arbor.

2. in a thermometer, a support, a dial plate horizontally mounted on said support, a bi-metallic coil, means connected to the dial plate for supporting the coil beneath said dial plate, a rotatable arbor mounted in sub stantially vertical position and passing through an opening in said dial plate, sai arbor being attached to. and supported against vertical displacement by said himetallic coil, and an indicator mounted on said arbor and movable over said dial plate.

3. In a thermometer, a support, a dial plate horizontally mounted on said support and having a central opening therein, a tubular bushing passing through said open ing, a supporting plate mounted below said dial plate and attached to said tubular bushing, a frame carried by said supporting plate and having a bearing therein in alignment with the hole in the tubular bushing,

an arbor journaled in said tubular bushing and bearing, a bi-metallic coil surroundin said arbor and supported at one end by said supporting plate and havin its opposite end operatively connected with said arbor, and an indicator attached to said arbor above said dial plate.

l. In a thermometer, a base, a convex dial plate, a supporting plate mounted under said dial plate, means for securing the peripheral edge of said plates in frictional engagement, temperature-responsive means carried by said supporting plate, and an indicator mounted above said dial plate and operatively connected with said temperature-responsive means.

5. In a thermometer, an open ended hollow support, a convex dial plat-e mounted top of said support, and closing," said open end temperature responsive means by said dial plate and depending within said support, indicating means movable over said dial plate and operatively connected with said temperature-responsive means, a domeshaped crystal covering sald dial Plate and indicator, and means for securing said crys-' tal' to said support.

6. An instrument of the character described, including a hollow support, a convex dial plate mounted thereon, operative mechanism, means for connecting said mechanism to the dial plate so as to project within said hollow support, indicatin means operatively connected with sai operative mechanism and movable over said dial plate, a dome-shaped crystal enclosing said dial plate and indicating means, the edges of said dial plate and crystal being arranged adjacent one another, and means for securingsaid crystal to said support.

7. lln an indicating instrument, a dial plate having a convex face, adapted to be secured to a support, an indicating device, means to pivotally support said indicating device so as to move over the convex face of said dial plate, means located on the concave side of said dial plate for actuating said pivotal support to move the indicating means over the dial plate, and a domeshaped crystal enclosing the convex side of said dial late and said indicating means.

8. An indicating instrument including a convex dial plate, a domeshaped crystal enclosing said dial plate and extending from the border thereof, and a vane located be tween said dial plate and said crystal and movable about an axis passing thru the center of said dial plate, the edge of said vane adjacent the surface of the dial'plate being shaped to conform to the contour of the latter.

9. lln an indicating instrument, a convex dial having a scale near the margin of the. convex surface thereof, and an indicator shaft mounted for rotation about an axis passing substantially centrally through an opening at the axis oi said dial and normal to the lane of the dial adjacent said opening, said indicator having substantial width ip p direction normal to the surface of the tv 1a 10. An indicating instrument including a convex dial having indicia on the convex surface thereof and an indicator movable over said dial and adapted to cooperate with said indicia, and means for moving said indicator comprising a shaft passing through an opening in the center of said dial, and normal to the plane of the dial adjacent said opening said indicator comprising a thin vane of substantial width in d'rccticn normal to the surface of the oral.

ll. thermometer, the combination having convex surface having indications thereon, a movable vane on the convex side of said dial plate adjacent said surface, a dome-shaped over extending from the border of said surface over said vane, a thermostatic'element on the opposite side of said dial plate and means operatively connecting said element to the vane.

12. A temperature indicating device comprising a dial plate having a convex surface having indications thereon, a movable vane on the convex side of said dial plate and adjacent said surface, a' transparent dome-shaped cover extending from the border of said surface over said vane, a coiled thermostatic element on the opposite side of said dial plate means operatively connecting said element to the vane, and means for supporting the dial plate together with said element, said vane and said cover.

13. In an indicating instrument, a hollow support having a circular opening in the top thereoi, a retaining ring having a portion fitting in said opening, and having a shoulder and a flange, a dial resting on said shoulder, and a crystal covering said dial and secured. in position by the flange of the retaining ring.

14. In an indicating instrument, an indicating member movable about a substantially vertical axis, a dial arranged substantially normal to said axis and over which said indicating member moves, and a maximum or minimum indicator resting on and frictionally engaging the face of the dial and adapted to be moved thereover by the movements of the indicating net ease member and to remain in the position to which it is moved.

15. In an indicating instrument, a substantially vertical arbor, an indicating member-"fixed thereto, a dial arranged substantially normal to said arbor below said in dicating member, and a maximum or minimum hand loosely pivoted so as to swing freely about the axis of said arbor and rest ing in gravitational frictional engagement only upon the face of the dial and adapted to be moved by the movement of said indicating member.

16. In an indicating instrument, an apertured dial plate, temperature responsive means carried by one side of said dial plate, indicating meansmovable over the other side ofsaid dial plate, and operatively connected with said temperature responsive means, a dome-shaped crystal covering said dial plate and indicator and resting on the upper marginal edge of said dial plate, and a metal retaining ring engaging beneath the dial and spun over the crystal to hold the dial and crystal together.

17. An indicating instrument including a dial plate, a dome-shaped crystal enclosing said dial plate and extending from the border thereof, and a vane located between said dial plate and said crystal and movable about an axis passing thru the center of said dial plate, said indicator having substantial Width in a direction normal to the surface of said dial.

"In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature to this specification.

HERMAN SCHLAICH. 

